Your GPU hotspot temperature can reveal a thermal paste problem that regular temperatures won't
But MSI Afterburner won't show you this metric.
Your GPU's hotspot temperature can indicate a potential issue with thermal paste, even if overall temperatures appear normal. Most people monitor GPU temperatures while gaming, but the hotspot temperature, which shows the highest sensor reading on the die, is crucial. MSI Afterburner doesn't display this, but tools like HWiNFO64 can reveal it.
A significant gap between GPU temperature and hotspot temperature, like a 25C difference, suggests poor heat dissipation. This could be due to thermal paste drying out or the pump-out effect, where repeated heating and cooling cause the paste to push away from the GPU die, leaving some areas with poor contact. Over time, this can lead to higher hotspot temperatures and potential issues like louder fans or thermal throttling, even with a seemingly normal GPU temperature.
While a high hotspot doesn't automatically mean your GPU is damaged, it's worth monitoring. If the gap between GPU and hotspot temperatures has increased, it's a sign to investigate further. Checking dust buildup, fan operation, and case airflow are initial steps, but if problems persist, repasting the GPU might be necessary. Use thermal paste resistant to the pump-out effect to prevent future issues.
Written by urgent.news from XDA Developers's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
